I was not into the whole singing side of things. I do agree that rent sucks. Both the rent in real life and the actual movie. I understand it was aimed at talking about everyone's painful history with drug addiction and hiv/aids however it wasn't a movie/play I could get into at all. I was completely bored for 2 and a half hours.

Rent is a musical that I had heard about long before I finally decided to watch the film. For one thing, my mother is a huge fan of Rent and would often sing "Seasons of Love" and "La Vie Bohème" around the house. I had heard different things about the movie - however. Some people love it and some people hate it with a burning passion. Deciding I would give it a chance (and considering it's leaving Hulu in a few days), here's my thoughts on Rent.I'm gonna start with the positives because if I were to get into the negatives first, you would all think I absolutely hated this movie. First things first - Jesse L. Martin is the MVP of this entire movie. He delivers a damn near Oscar-worthy performance throughout the entire film but especially during the event that happens towards the end of the movie. I was also a fan of Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Tracie Thorns's performances as well - they did a great job.I wasn't a huge fan of every song, but there were some that I liked, like "Seasons of Love," "La Vie Bohème," and "Tango: Maureen." A big part of why I ended up watching the whole movie (instead of just skipping) was Chris Columbus's direction. He directs every big number, like "La Vie Bohème," the title track "Rent," and "Take Me or Leave Me," and makes them extremely interesting. I almost wonder how they looked on the stage, because they sure didn't have the intriguing camera direction.Here's my biggest problem with the movie up front: the story. Listening to the soundtrack alone is fine enough, but once you put the music to the movie, it just all crumbles. Stephen Chbosky is the screenwriter and I don't think he's to blame. He's directed and written The Perks of Being a Wallflower (one of my favorite movies) and written the latest Beauty and the Beast (which I also liked), so I know he's not that bad. It's the musical itself that is the problem.The original writer of the musical, Jonathan Larson, died shortly before the show made it's Off-Broadway premiere. And while that is a tragedy, I believe that actually has some part to play in the problems this show has. Hear me out. When a show goes Off-Broadway, typically, before it goes to Broadway, it has changes done and some of the kinks are ironed out. They didn't change the show at all when Jonathan Larson died, because they wanted to honor his memory, and that's where the underlying problems lie.Another problem with the story itself is that it focuses on the two blandest characters in the entire movie. Anthony Rapp plays Mark Cohen, an aspiring filmmaker, and Adam Pascal plays Roger Davis, a struggling musician. These two are really uninteresting, and the relationship Roger starts up with Mimi (played by Rosario Dawson) is unbelievable and honestly ridiculous when you consider Roger is a recovering addict and Mimi is a current user. All of their songs seem to just take up more and more time as the movie continues, and the film's finale even revolves around them!In 1996, I'm sure this musical was important. It was probably the first huge statement about LGBT people and also the AIDS epidemic. And look, I'm gay, I completely stand with everything the musical tries to get across. But the problem is that in today's world, over 20 years after the musical first premiered, there is much better representation of LGBT people to be seen. I appreciate that Collins and Angel are able to have a relationship, and you don't even really realize Collins is gay at first (same cannot be said for Angel), but almost everything else they try to do doesn't work.Especially the entire character of Maureen (played by Idina Menzel). When the movie picks up, she has dumped Mark and is now dating Joanne Jefferson (played by Tracie Thorns). Mark makes Joanne realize that Maureen is a player in one of my favorite songs: "Tango: Maureen," but then Joanne decides to even GET ENGAGED TO MAUREEN. AND THEN MAUREEN DOES IT AGAIN AT THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY. Of course, Joanne finally breaks up with her then, but god damn it does it infuriate me that the ONLY bisexual character in the movie is portrayed as if she can't keep her pants on for five damn seconds!Roger Ebert in his review of the movie says, "But if you stand back from the importance of Rent as a cultural artifact and a statement about AIDS, does it stand on its own as a musical? I don't think so." And I would completely agree. While there are some great numbers and great casting choices, the movie as a whole fails because there's not enough there to support an over two-hour movie. It also is a criminal misuse of some important issues, because some groups don't get a great representation, which is a real shame given the cultural impact the musical has had. Perhaps the musical works better, I don't know, but as a movie, Rent fails.

I read this has not had entirely glowing reviews, and having watched it for a third time I feel compelled to counter that negativity.I have never been as blubbery during a film! As I remember I loved it, but had forgotten quite how much. I have become more familiar with all the songs, and I guess these had everything to do with it. What this film does is, I believe, not just capture the essence of the musical, it magnifies it. Musicals tend to aim at two showstoppers, one for the end of each half, numbers which leave you absolutely and totally in awe, making you stand up and cheer and clap and saying "wow that's the best thing I have ever seen". In Rent it seems like every song is a showstopper. As the chords for each one chime in with the recognition it is like a new delight, like when you watch Jersey Boys you think at the end of the first half there can't be any more great songs left in the catalogue but you are left open mouthed at the strength and depth. Wowzer! So, songs apart, 'cos tunes alone can't carry a movie.. The story is kind of unremarkable. That is not a negative, what I'm trying to say it is a tried and trusted formula, which is conducted more than adequately; this has a great deal more in common with I Daniel Blake than might be intuitively considered, SPOLER ALERT, employing the tried and trusted trope of the exploited underdogs overcoming the man and their own demons through bravery, initiative and unity against the odds. It is not happy endings all round, but there is resolution in a conclusion that garners ones thoughts, sympathy and fundamental satisfaction (I didn't say happiness there!). As for the dramatis personae, each single one of those eight people stood on the stage at the beginning has got it going' on, each one has a narrative that is a feast, arching through the whole film that had me hooked from the back-lit silhouettes and that simple piano. Look - I know, this is no way going to be everybody's cup of tea - but it IS mine, absolutely, totally hook line and sinker. It's in my top ten. It's in my top six. It will fade, but I just know that cosied up on that Friday night all on my lonely self and indulging myself in a coconut, a mango and a bottle of Chianti and this heart rending tragedy I have rarely, if ever, enjoyed a film as much. And if you get offended because I say that's 'gay', well I pity you.

I honestly loved the opening theme song of ' Seasons of Love'. It's just an incredible way to start one of the most recognized musicals in the whole wide world.The rest of the music was great. As usual after her success in the Broadway musical 'Wicked', Idina Menzel killed it with her role as a bisexual woman. Like seriously, you can get that girl into anything! I'm so glad she got involved with voicing Elsa in Frozen. She is a legend. Just stunning!And how can we forget Wilson Jermaine Heredia aka Angel. He looked fabulously smashing dressing up as a drag queen. He really had a lot of energy and his love for Tom Collins just made you smile! I was so gutted that he died from aids. I felt so deeply sorry for Collins cause they were such a cute couple together :((Roger had the best voice with his own rock style. I think himself and Mini were meant for each other. I'm happy they rekindled in the end because it wouldn't make sense for them not being together! I absolutely loved watching this musical, it was so enjoyable!